Aerosol generating device, method of controlling aerosol generating device, and program

ABSTRACT

Provided is an aerosol generating device which is capable of optimizing the timing at which aerosol generation is stopped. This aerosol generating device 100 includes: a power source 114 which supplies power in order to atomize an aerosol source and/or heat a flavor source; a sensor 106 which outputs a measurement value indicating a first physical quantity for controlling the power supplied; and a controller 130 which acquires the measurement value output by the sensor 106, stores a profile of the measurement value, and controls the supplied power by controlling a second physical quantity different to the first physical quantity, on the basis of the acquired measurement value and at least a part of the stored profile of the measurement value.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/395,747, filed Apr. 26, 2019, which is a continuation of PCTInternational Application No. PCT/JP2017/016135, filed on Apr. 24, 2017,each of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference into thepresent application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a device which generates aerosolinhaled by a user or aerosol added with flavor, a method of controllingsuch an aerosol generating device, and a program.

BACKGROUND ART

A glass fiber has been widely used as a wick serving to retain anaerosol source near a heater of an e-cigarette. However, instead of theglass fiber, it is considered to use ceramics for the wick, which can beexpected to simplify the manufacturing process and improve the aerosolyield.

The e-cigarette in which the glass fiber is used for the wick iscontrolled to deliver aerosol into the oral cavity of a user, theaerosol being generated by atomizing an aerosol source by a heaterimmediately after the inhalation is started, and to stop the generationof this aerosol immediately after the inhalation is stopped, such thatan unnatural feeling of the inhalation is not provided to the user. Whenthe wick made of ceramics, e.g., alumina is used, it is necessary toadvance the timing at which the energization of the heater is startedand the timing at which the energization of the heater is terminated ina single puff (inhalation cycle) to enjoy smoking using the e-cigarettewith the same feeling as before, because the typical thermal capacity ofthe wick made of alumina is about 0.008 J/K, which is higher than thetypical thermal capacity of about 0.003 J/K in the wick made of glassfiber.

In this regard, there is proposed a technique in which a threshold todetermine puff start time is smaller than a threshold to determine puffend time (see PTL 1, for example).

However, when the threshold to determine the puff start time is madesmall, it is easy to pick up noise, such that unnecessary energizationeasily occurs.

When the threshold to determine the puff end time is larger than thethreshold to determine the puff start time, in the determination madeonly by comparing the signal and the threshold, the puff end conditionis satisfied substantially at the same time as or immediately after thetiming when the puff start condition is satisfied.

Furthermore, an appropriate value as a threshold associated with thedetermination differs depending on the inhalation way, and theinhalation way has differences among individuals.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

PTL 1: National Publication of International Patent Application No.2013-541373

PTL 2: National Publication of International Patent Application No.2014-534814

PTL 3: International Publication No. WO 2016/118645

PTL 4: International Publication No. WO 2016/175320

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

The present disclosure has been made in view of the problems describedabove.

A first object of the present disclosure is to provide an aerosolgenerating device capable of generating aerosol at an appropriate timingwhile suppressing unnecessary energization.

A second object of the present disclosure is to provide an aerosolgenerating device capable of generating aerosol at an appropriatetiming.

A third object of the present disclosure is to provide an aerosolgenerating device capable of optimizing a timing when the aerosolgeneration is stopped for each user.

Solution to Problem

To achieve the above-described first object, according to a firstembodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosolgenerating device, comprising a power source that supplies power toperform atomization of an aerosol source and/or heating of a flavorsource; a sensor that outputs a measured value for controlling the powersupplied; and a controller that controls the power supplied based on themeasured value, wherein the controller controls a power supply amountfrom the power source to be a first value when the measured value isequal to or larger than a first threshold and smaller than a secondthreshold larger than the first threshold, and the power supply amountto be larger than the first value when the measured value is equal to orlarger than the second threshold.

In one embodiment, the aerosol is not generated from the aerosol sourceor the flavor source by the power supply amount of the first value.

In one embodiment, the controller stops supplying the power when themeasured value does not reach a value being equal to or larger than thesecond threshold within a predetermined time from when the measuredvalue is equal to or larger than the first threshold or supplying thepower with the first value is started.

In one embodiment, at least one of power for applying the power supplyamount of the first value or an amount of power per unit time and thepredetermined time is set so that the first value is equal to or lessthan the power supply amount for starting the aerosol generation fromthe aerosol source or the flavor source.

In one embodiment, the power supply amount per unit time when themeasured value is equal to or larger than the first threshold andsmaller than the second threshold is between zero value and the powersupply amount per unit time when the measured value is equal to orlarger than the second threshold, and is closer to the latter than theformer.

In one embodiment, the controller stops supplying the power when themeasured value falls below the third threshold which is equal to orlarger than the second threshold.

In one embodiment, the second threshold is closer to the first thresholdthan the third threshold.

In one embodiment, the second threshold is closer to the third thresholdthan the first threshold.

In one embodiment, the second threshold is equal to the third threshold.

In one embodiment, a difference between the second threshold and thefirst threshold is larger than the first threshold.

In one embodiment, a porous body having pores therein is included, thepores being configured to perform transferring the aerosol source and/orthe flavor source to a position and/or holding the aerosol source and/orthe flavor source to such a position, wherein the position is a positionat which a load can perform atomization and/or heating with the powersupplied from the power source.

According to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, there isalso provided a method of controlling an aerosol generating device forcontrolling power supplied from a power source to perform atomization ofan aerosol source and/or heating of a flavor source based on a measuredvalue output from a sensor, the method comprising a step of controllinga power supply amount from the power source to be a first value when themeasured value is equal to or larger than a first threshold and smallerthan a second threshold larger than the first threshold; and a step ofcontrolling the power supply amount to be larger than the first valuewhen the measured value is equal to or larger than the second threshold.

According to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, a programcausing a processor to execute the above-described control method isalso provided.

According to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, there isalso provided an aerosol generating device, comprising a power sourcethat supplies power to perform atomization of an aerosol source and/orheating of a flavor source; a sensor that outputs a measured value forcontrolling the power supplied; and a controller that controls the powersupplied based on the measured value, wherein the controller controls tosupply a first power from the power source when the measured value isequal to or larger than a first threshold and smaller than a secondthreshold larger than the first threshold, and to supply, from the powersource, a power larger than the first power when the measured value isequal to or larger than the second threshold.

According to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, there isalso provided an aerosol generating device, comprising a power sourcethat supplies power to perform atomization of an aerosol sourceand/heating of a flavor source; a sensor that outputs a measured valuefor controlling the power supplied; and a controller that controls thepower supplied based on the measured value, wherein the controllercontrols a power supply amount from the power source to be a secondvalue when the measured value exceeds a first threshold, controls tostop supplying the power when the measured value falls below a secondthreshold larger than the first threshold after the power sourcesupplies the power of the second value, and controls the power supplyamount before the measured value exceeds the first threshold to besmaller than the second value.

To achieve the above-described second object, according to a secondembodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosolgenerating device, comprising a power source that supplies power toperform atomization of an aerosol source and/or heating of a flavorsource; a sensor that outputs a measured value for controlling the powersupplied; and a controller that controls the power supplied from thepower source based on the measured value, wherein the controllercontrols to increase a power supply amount per unit time (hereinafterreferred to as a “unit amount of power supplied”) when a first conditionthat the measured value is equal to or larger than a first threshold issatisfied, and to decrease the unit amount of power supplied when asecond condition that the measured value is smaller than a secondthreshold larger than the first threshold and a third condition which isdifferent from the first condition and the second condition aresatisfied.

In one embodiment, the third condition is not satisfied at the same timeas the first condition.

In one embodiment, the second condition can be satisfied prior to thethird condition.

In one embodiment, the third condition is a condition based on themeasured value.

In one embodiment, the third condition is a condition based on a timederivative of the measured value.

In one embodiment, the third condition is a condition that the timederivative of the measured value is smaller than or equal to zero.

In one embodiment, the third condition is a condition that the timederivative of the measured value is equal to or smaller than a thirdthreshold which is smaller than zero.

In one embodiment, the controller increases the unit amount of powersupplied when the time derivative of the measured value exceeds zerowithin a predetermined return period from when the second condition andthe third condition are satisfied.

In one embodiment, the controller gradually increases the unit amount ofpower supplied from zero value to a second unit amount of powersupplied, and from the second unit amount of power supplied to a thirdunit amount of power supplied larger than the second unit amount ofpower supplied when the first condition is satisfied, and increases theunit amount of power supplied from zero value to the third unit amountof power supplied when the time derivative of the measured value exceedszero within the predetermined return period from when the secondcondition and the third condition are satisfied.

In one embodiment, the third condition is a condition that the measuredvalue falls below the second threshold after the measured value exceedsa fourth threshold which is equal to or larger than the secondthreshold.

In one embodiment, the controller decreases the unit amount of powersupplied when a condition that the measured value is smaller than thefirst threshold is satisfied in a case where the third condition is notsatisfied within a predetermined determination period from when thefirst condition is satisfied.

In one embodiment, the controller calculates a maximum value of themeasured value every period from when supplying the power is started towhen supplying the power is stopped, and updates the fourth thresholdbased on a plurality of the maximum values calculated.

In one embodiments, the controller updates the fourth threshold based onan average value of the plurality of maximum values calculated.

In one embodiments, the controller updates the fourth threshold based ona weighted average value of the plurality of maximum values calculated,and in the calculation of the weighted average value, a greater weightis assigned to the maximum value calculated for a more recent periodfrom when supplying the power is started to when supplying the powerthus started is stopped.

In one embodiment, the controller calculates a maximum value of themeasured value every period from when supplying the power is started towhen supplying the power is stopped, updates the second threshold basedon a plurality of the maximum values calculated, and updates the fourththreshold to be equal to or larger than the updated second threshold.

In one embodiment, the controller stores changes in the measured valueevery period from when supplying the power is started to when supplyingthe power is stopped, updates the second threshold based on a pluralityof the measured values stored, and updates the fourth threshold to beequal to or larger than the updated second threshold.

In one embodiment, the controller updates the second threshold based onthe changes in a plurality of the measured values stored and based on avalue obtained by subtracting a specified value from an average value ofdurations of the changes in the measured values.

In one embodiment, the third condition is a condition that apredetermined dead period has elapsed since the first condition wassatisfied.

In one embodiment, the controller calculates at least one of a firstrequired time from when the first condition is satisfied to when themeasured value reaches the maximum value and a second required time fromwhen the first condition is satisfied until the first condition is notsatisfied, every period from when supplying the power is started to whensupplying the power is stopped, and updates the dead period based on atleast one of a plurality of the first required times and a plurality ofthe second required times.

In one embodiment, the controller updates the dead period based on atleast one of an average value of a plurality of the first required timesand an average value of a plurality of the second required times.

In one embodiment, the controller updates the dead period based on atleast one of a weighted average value of a plurality of the firstrequired times and a weighted average value of a plurality of the secondrequired times, and in the calculation of the weighted average value, agreater weight is assigned to at least one of the first required timesand the second required times which are calculated for a more recentperiod from when supplying the power is started to when supplying thepower thus started is stopped.

In one embodiment, the controller calculates a maximum value of themeasured value every period from when supplying the power is started towhen supplying the power is stopped, and updates the second thresholdbased on a plurality of the maximum values calculated.

In one embodiment, the controller stores a change in the measured valueevery period from when supplying the power is started to when supplyingthe power is stopped, and updates the second threshold based on aplurality of the changes in the measured value stored.

In one embodiment, the controller can implement a selection mode inwhich one or more third conditions are selectable from a third conditiongroup including a plurality of the third conditions.

In one embodiment, in the selection mode, the controller stores themeasured values, and selects the one or more third conditions from thethird condition group based on the stored measured values.

In one embodiment, in the selection mode, the controller selects the oneor more third conditions from the third condition group based on a timederivative of the stored measured values.

In one embodiment, in the selection mode, the controller selects the oneor more third conditions from the third condition group based on amaximum value of the stored measured values.

In one embodiment, in the selection mode, the controller selects the oneor more third conditions from the third condition group based ondurations of the changes in the measured values stored.

In one embodiment, in the selection mode, the controller selects the oneor more third conditions from the third condition group based on anoperation on the aerosol generating device.

In one embodiment, the controller stores the third condition group inadvance.

In one embodiment, the controller acquires the selected one or morethird conditions from the third condition group stored outside theaerosol generating device.

In one embodiment, the third condition is a condition that at the timeof determining the third condition, a predetermined time or more haselapsed since the measured value output until the third condition isdetermined became maximum.

In one embodiment, the controller increases the unit amount of powersupplied from zero value to a first unit amount of power supplied whenthe first condition is satisfied.

In one embodiment, the controller decreases the unit amount of powersupplied from the first unit amount of power supplied to zero value whenthe second condition and the third condition are satisfied.

According to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, there isalso provided an aerosol generating device, comprising a power sourcethat supplies power to perform atomization of an aerosol source and/orheating of a flavor source; a sensor that outputs a measured value forcontrolling the power supplied; and a controller that controls the powersupplied based on the measured value, wherein the controller controls toincrease a power supply amount per unit time (hereinafter referred to asa “unit amount of power supplied”) when a first condition that themeasured value is equal to or larger than a first threshold issatisfied, and to decrease the unit amount of power supplied when acondition is satisfied, the condition not being satisfied in apredetermined adjustment period from when the first condition issatisfied.

In one embodiment, the adjustment period is equal to or longer than acontrol period of the controller.

According to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, there isalso provided an aerosol generating device, comprising a power sourcethat supplies power to perform atomization of an aerosol source and/orheating of a flavor source; and a controller that controls the powersupplied, wherein the controller controls to increase a power supplyamount per unit time (hereinafter referred to as a “unit amount of powersupplied”) when all of one or more conditions included in a firstcondition group are satisfied, and to decrease the unit amount of powersupplied when all of one or more conditions included in a secondcondition group are satisfied, and the number of conditions included inthe first condition group is smaller than the number of conditionsincluded in the second condition group.

In one embodiment, each of the first condition group and the secondcondition group includes at least one condition involving a commonvariable.

In one embodiment, a sensor that outputs a measured value forcontrolling the power supplied is included, wherein the common variableis based on the measured value.

In one embodiment, the condition involving a common variable is acondition that an absolute value of the common variable is equal to orlarger than a threshold, larger than a threshold, smaller than or equalto a threshold, or smaller than a threshold, and the threshold in thecondition involving the common variable included in the first conditiongroup is different from the threshold in the condition involving thecommon variable included in the second condition group.

In one embodiment, the threshold in the condition involving the commonvariable included in the first condition group is smaller than thethreshold in the condition involving the common variable included in thesecond condition group.

In one embodiment, a porous body having pores therein is included, thepores being configured to perform transferring the aerosol source and/orthe flavor source to a position and/or holding the aerosol source and/orthe flavor source to such a position, wherein the position is a positionat which a load can perform atomization and/or heating with the powersupplied from the power source.

According to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, there isalso provided an aerosol generating device, comprising a power sourcethat supplies power to perform atomization of an aerosol source and/orheating of a flavor source; and a controller that controls the powersupplied, wherein the controller controls to increase a power supplyamount per unit time (hereinafter referred to as a “unit amount of powersupplied”) when a first condition is satisfied, and to decrease the unitamount of power supplied when a second condition severer than the firstcondition is satisfied.

In one embodiment, a porous body having pores therein is included, thepores being configured to perform transferring the aerosol source and/orthe flavor source to a position and/or holding the aerosol source and/orthe flavor source to such a position, wherein the position is a positionat which a load can perform atomization and/or heating with the powersupplied from the power source.

According to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, there isalso provided a method of controlling an aerosol generating device forcontrolling power supplied from a power source to perform atomization ofan aerosol source and/or heating of a flavor source based on a measuredvalue output from a sensor, the method comprising a step of increasing apower supply amount per unit time (hereinafter referred to as a “unitamount of power supplied”) when a first condition that the measuredvalue is equal to or larger than a first threshold is satisfied; and astep of decreasing the unit amount of power supplied when a secondcondition that the measured value is smaller than a second thresholdlarger than the first threshold and a third condition that is differentfrom the first condition and the second condition are satisfied.

According to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, a programcausing a processor to execute the above-described control method isalso provided.

According to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, there isalso provided a method of controlling an aerosol generating device forcontrolling power supplied from a power source to perform atomization ofan aerosol source and/or heating of a flavor source based on a measuredvalue output from a sensor, the method comprising a step of increasingthe power supply amount per unit time (hereinafter referred to as a“unit amount of power supplied”) when a first condition that themeasured value is equal to or larger than a first threshold issatisfied; and a step of decreasing the unit amount of power suppliedwhen a condition is satisfied, the condition not being satisfied in apredetermined adjustment period from when the first condition issatisfied.

According to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, a programcausing a processor to execute the above-described control method isalso provided.

According to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, there isalso provided a method of controlling an aerosol generating device forcontrolling power supplied from a power source to perform atomization ofan aerosol source and/or heating of a flavor source, the methodcomprising a step of increasing a power supply amount per unit time(hereinafter referred to as a “unit amount of power supplied”) when allof one or more conditions included in a first condition group aresatisfied; and a step of decreasing the unit amount of power suppliedwhen all of one or more conditions included in a second condition groupare satisfied, wherein the number of conditions included in the firstcondition group is smaller than the number of conditions included in thesecond condition group.

According to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, a programcausing a processor to execute the above-described control method isalso provided.

According to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, there isalso provided a method of controlling an aerosol generating device forcontrolling power supplied from a power source to perform atomization ofan aerosol source and/or heating of a flavor source, the methodcomprising a step of increasing a power supply amount per unit time(hereinafter referred to as a “unit amount of power supplied”) when afirst condition is satisfied; and a step of decreasing the unit amountof power supplied when a second condition severer than the firstcondition is satisfied.

According to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, a programcausing a processor to execute the above-described control method isalso provided.

According to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, there isalso provided an aerosol generating device, comprising a power sourcethat supplies power to perform atomization of an aerosol source and/orheating of a flavor source; a sensor that outputs a measured value forcontrolling the power supplied; and a controller that controls the powersupplied based on the measured value, wherein the controller controls toincrease a power supply amount per unit time (hereinafter referred to asa “unit amount of power supplied”) when a first condition that themeasured value is equal to or larger than a first threshold issatisfied, and to decrease the unit amount of power supplied when asecond condition that the measured value is smaller than a secondthreshold larger than the first threshold is satisfied after a thirdcondition that is different from the first condition and the secondcondition is satisfied.

According to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, there isalso provided a method of controlling an aerosol generating device forcontrolling power supplied from a power source to perform atomization ofan aerosol source and/or heating of a flavor source based on a measuredvalue output from a sensor, the method comprising a step of increasing apower supply amount per unit time (hereinafter referred to as a “unitamount of power supplied”) when a first condition that the measuredvalue is equal to or larger than a first threshold is satisfied; and astep of decreasing the unit amount of power supplied when a secondcondition that the measured value is smaller than a second thresholdlarger than the first threshold is satisfied after a third conditionthat is different from the first condition and the second condition issatisfied.

According to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, a programcausing a processor to execute the above-described control method isalso provided.

To achieve the above-described third object, according to a thirdembodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosolgenerating device, comprising a power source that supplies power toperform atomization of an aerosol source and/or heating of a flavorsource; a sensor that outputs a measured value representing a firstphysical quantity for controlling the power supplied; and a controllerthat acquires the measured value output from the sensor, stores aprofile of the measured value, and controls the supplied power bycontrolling a second physical quantity which is different from the firstphysical quantity, based on the acquired measured value and at leastpart of the stored profile of the measured value.

In one embodiment, the controller stores a profile of the measuredvalue, the profile corresponding to a power supply cycle including aperiod from when the power source starts supplying the power to whensupplying the power is stopped, and controls at least one of a stop andcontinuity of supplying the power based on at least one of a firstprofile and a second profile, the first profile being a stored profileof the measured values, and the second profile being an average profileof the measured value derived from a plurality of the first profiles.

In one embodiment, the controller derives a first required time requiredfrom the start to the end of changes in the measured value based on atleast one of the first profile and the second profile, and controls thepower supplied so that supplying the power is stopped at a timingearlier than elapse of the first required time.

In one embodiment, the controller derives a first required time requiredfrom the start to the end of changes in the measured value based on atleast one of the first profile and the second profile, and controls thepower supplied so that the power continues to be supplied for a shortertime than the first required time.

In one embodiment, the controller derives a second required timerequired from the start of changes in the measured values to when themeasured value reaches a maximum value, based on at least one of thefirst profile and the second profile, and controls the power supplied sothat supplying the power is stopped at a timing later than elapse of thesecond required time.

In one embodiment, the controller derives a second required timerequired from the start of changes in the measured values to when themeasured value reaches a maximum value, based on at least one of thefirst profile and the second profile, and controls the power supplied sothat the power continues to be supplied for a longer time than thesecond required time.

In one embodiment, the controller derives a first required time requiredfrom the start to the end of changes in the measured value and a secondrequired time required from the start of changes in the measured valuesto when the measured value reaches a maximum value, based on at leastone of the first profile and the second profile, and controls the powersupplied so that supplying the power is stopped at a timing earlier thanelapse of the first required time and later than elapse of the secondrequired time.

In one embodiment, the controller derives a first required time requiredfrom the start to the end of changes in the measured value and a secondrequired time required from the start of changes in the measured valuesto when the measured value reaches a maximum value, based on at leastone of the first profile and the second profile, and controls the powersupplied so that the power continues to be supplied for a shorter timethan the first required time and for a longer time than the secondrequired time.

In one embodiment, the controller is configured to acquire the measuredvalue and a measurement time of the measured value and to be capable ofexecuting a first algorithm for setting a timing when supplying thepower is stopped or a period of time in which the power continues to besupplied based on a first feature point in the first profile or thesecond profile and a second algorithm for setting a timing whensupplying the power is stopped or a period of time in which the powercontinues to be supplied based on a second feature point which isdifferent from the first feature point in the first change or the secondchange, and executes at least one of the first algorithm and the secondalgorithm based on deviations among the measurement times of the firstfeature points in each of a plurality of the first profiles or thesecond profile.

In one embodiment, the controller executes the first algorithm whenvalues based on the deviations among the plurality of measurement timesare smaller than or equal to a threshold.

In one embodiment, the number of possible values of the measurement timeof the first feature point is larger than that of possible values of themeasurement time of the second feature point.

In one embodiment, the measurement time of the first feature point islater than the measurement time of the second feature point.

In one embodiment, the measured value of the first feature point issmaller than the measured value of the second feature point.

In one embodiment, the first feature point is an end point in the firstprofile or the second profile.

In one embodiment, the second feature point is a point at which themeasured value becomes maximum in the first profile or the secondprofile.

In one embodiment, the controller controls to increase a power supplyamount per unit time (hereinafter referred to as a “unit amount of powersupplied”) when a first condition that the measured value is equal to orlarger than a first threshold is satisfied, and to decrease the unitamount of power supplied when the measured value satisfies at least asecond condition that the measured value is smaller than a secondthreshold larger than the first threshold.

In one embodiment, a porous body having pores therein is included, thepores being configured to perform transferring of the aerosol sourceand/or the flavor source to a position and/or holding the aerosol sourceand/or the flavor source to such a position, wherein the position is aposition at which a load can perform atomization and/or heating with thepower supplied from the power source.

According to the third embodiment of the present disclosure, there isalso provided a method of controlling an aerosol generating device forcontrolling power supplied from a power source to perform atomization ofan aerosol source and/or heating of a flavor source based on a measuredvalue output from a sensor, the method comprising a step of acquiringthe measured value representing a first physical quantity and storing aprofile of the measured value; and a step of controlling the suppliedpower by controlling a second physical quantity which is different fromthe first physical quantity, based on the acquired measured value and atleast part of the stored profile of the measured value.

According to the third embodiment of the present disclosure, a programcausing a processor to execute the above-described control method isalso provided.

According to the third embodiment of the present disclosure, there isalso provided an aerosol generating device, comprising a power sourcethat supplies power to perform atomization of an aerosol source and/orheating of a flavor source; a sensor that outputs a measured value forcontrolling the power supplied; and a controller that controls the powersupplied from the power source based on the measured value and stores aprofile of the measured value, wherein the controller controls toincrease a power supply amount per unit time (hereinafter referred to asa “unit amount of power supplied”) when a first condition that themeasured value is equal to or larger than a first threshold issatisfied, and to decrease the unit amount of power supplied when atleast a second condition that the measured value is smaller than asecond threshold larger than the first threshold is satisfied, and oneof the first threshold and the second threshold is a constant value, andthe other of the first threshold and the second threshold is anupdatable value based on at least part of a profile of the measuredvalue stored by the controller.

In one embodiment, the first threshold is a constant value, and thesecond threshold is an updatable value based on at least part of aprofile of the measured value stored by the controller.

In one embodiment, a porous body having pores therein is included, thepores being configured to perform transferring the aerosol source and/orthe flavor source to a position and/or holding the aerosol source and/orthe flavor source to such a position, wherein the position is a positionat which a load can perform atomization and/or heating with the powersupplied from the power source.

According to the third embodiment of the present disclosure, there isalso provided a method of controlling an aerosol generating device forcontrolling power supplied from a power source to perform atomization ofan aerosol source and/or heating of a flavor source based on a measuredvalue output from a sensor, the aerosol generating device controlling toincrease a power supply amount per unit time (hereinafter referred to asa “unit amount of power supplied”) when a first condition that themeasured value is equal to or larger than a first threshold issatisfied, and to decrease the unit amount of power supplied when atleast a second condition that the measured value is smaller than asecond threshold larger than the first threshold is satisfied, themethod comprising a step of storing a profile of the measured value; anda step of updating one of the first threshold and the second thresholdbased on at least part of the stored profile of the measured value.

According to the third embodiment of the present disclosure, a programcausing a processor to execute the above-described control method isalso provided.

According to the third embodiment of the present disclosure, there isalso provided an aerosol generating device, comprising a power sourcethat supplies power to perform atomization of an aerosol source and/orheating of a flavor source; a sensor that outputs a measured value forcontrolling the power supplied; and a controller that controls the powersupplied from the power source based on the measured value, wherein thecontroller controls to increase a power supply amount per unit time(hereinafter referred to as a “unit amount of power supplied”) when afirst condition that the measured value is equal to or larger than afirst threshold is satisfied, and to decrease the unit amount of powersupplied when at least a second condition that the measured value issmaller than a second threshold larger than the first threshold issatisfied, and an update frequency of the first threshold is differentfrom that of the second threshold.

In one embodiment, the update frequency of the first threshold is lowerthan that of the second threshold.

In one embodiment, a porous body having pores therein is included, thepores being configured to perform transferring the aerosol source and/orthe flavor source to a position and/or holding the aerosol source and/orthe flavor source to such a position, wherein the position is a positionat which a load can perform atomization and/or heating operating withthe power supplied from the power source.

According to the third embodiment of the present disclosure, there isalso provided a method of controlling an aerosol generating device forcontrolling power supplied from a power source to perform atomization ofan aerosol source and/or heating of a flavor source based on a measuredvalue output from a sensor, the aerosol generating device controlling toincrease a power supply amount per unit time (hereinafter referred to asa “unit amount of power supplied”) when a first condition that themeasured value is equal to or larger than a first threshold issatisfied, and to decrease the unit amount of power supplied when atleast a second condition that the measured value is smaller than asecond threshold larger than the first threshold is satisfied, themethod comprising a step of updating one of the first threshold and thesecond threshold at different frequencies than the other.

According to the third embodiment of the present disclosure, a programcausing a processor to execute the above-described control method isalso provided.

According to a third embodiment of the present disclosure, there is alsoprovided an aerosol generating device, comprising a power source thatsupplies power to perform atomization of an aerosol source and/orheating of a flavor source; a sensor that outputs a measured valuerepresenting a first physical quantity for controlling the powersupplied; and a controller that controls power supplied from the powersource by controlling a second physical quantity which is different fromthe first physical quantity, based on the measured value, and stores aprofile of the measured value, the profile corresponding to a powersupply cycle including a period from when supplying the power is startedto when supplying the power is stopped, wherein the controller controlsthe power supplied in an N-th power supply cycle based on a profile ofthe measured value, the profile corresponding to one or more powersupply cycles of an N-1st power supply cycle and power supply cyclesbefore the N-1st power supply cycle (N is a natural number of 2 ormore).

In one embodiment, a porous body having pores therein is included, thepores being configured to perform transferring the aerosol source and/orthe flavor source to a position and/or holding the aerosol source and/orthe flavor source to such a position, wherein the position is a positionat which a load can perform atomization and/or heating with the powersupplied from the power source.

According to the third embodiment of the present disclosure, there isalso provided a method of controlling an aerosol generating device forcontrolling power supplied from a power source by controlling a secondphysical quantity which is different from a first physical quantity toperform atomization of an aerosol source and/or heating of a flavorsource, based on a measured value representing the first physicalquantity output from a sensor, the method comprising a step of storing aprofile of the measured value, the profile corresponding to a powersupply cycle including a period from when the power source startssupplying the power to when supplying the power is stopped; and a stepof controlling the power supplied in an N-th power supply cycle based ona profile of the measured value, the profile corresponding to one ormore power supply cycles of an N-1st power supply cycle and power supplycycles before the N-1st power supply cycle (N is a natural number of 2or more).

According to the third embodiment of the present disclosure, a programcausing a processor to execute the above-described control method isalso provided.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, an aerosolgenerating device can be provided, which can generate aerosol at anappropriate timing while suppressing unnecessary energization.

According to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, an aerosolgenerating device can be provided, which can stop generating aerosol atan appropriate timing.

According to the third embodiment of the present disclosure, an aerosolgenerating device can be provided, which can optimize a timing when theaerosol generation is stopped for each user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary aerosol generating device 100according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart 200 illustrating first exemplary operations of acontroller 130.

FIG. 3A is a graph showing a relationship among a first threshold Thre1,a second threshold Thre2, and a third threshold Thre3.

FIG. 3B is a graph showing a relationship among the first thresholdThre1, the second threshold Thre2, and the third threshold Thre3.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing changes in measured values 310 of aninhalation sensor 106 over a period of time, and changes in powers 320supplied over a period of time.

FIG. 5A is a flowchart 500 illustrating second exemplary operations ofthe controller 130.

FIG. 5B is a part of a flowchart for illustrating a variation of theflowchart 500.

FIG. 6A is a graph for showing an example of an updating technique ofthe third threshold Thre3.

FIG. 6B is a graph for showing an example of an updating technique of adead period.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing various puff profiles.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart 800 illustrating exemplary operations forselecting a third condition from a third condition group.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart 900 illustrating third exemplary operations of thecontroller 130.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart 1000 illustrating fourth exemplary operations ofthe controller 130.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart 1100 illustrating fifth exemplary operations ofthe controller 130.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart 1200 illustrating sixth exemplary operations ofthe controller 130.

FIG. 13 is a graph for showing an example in which the timing whensupplying power is stopped or a period of time in which the powercontinues to be supplied is set.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described indetail with reference to drawings.

Incidentally, in the following description, the ordinal terms such as“first,” “second,” “third,” etc. are used for convenience only todistinguish one element having a certain name from another elementhaving a same name. For example, an element modified with an ordinalterm of “first” described in the specification and the drawings and thesame element modified with the ordinal term of “first” described inclaims do not identify a same object in some cases. On the contrary, forexample, an element modified with an ordinal term of “second” describedin the specification and the drawings and the same element modified withthe ordinal term of “first” described in claims identify a same objectin some cases. Accordingly, it should be noted that the objectidentified by such a term should be identified by a name other than theordinal term.

The following description is merely illustrative of embodiments of thepresent disclosure. Accordingly, it should be noted that the presentinvention is not limited to the following description, and variouschanges may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope ofthe present invention.

1 Exemplary Aerosol Generating Device 100 According to an Embodiment ofthe Present Disclosure

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device 100 accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure. It should be noted that FIG.1 schematically and conceptually illustrates each element included inthe aerosol generating device 100, but does not intend to indicate theexact arrangement, shape, dimension, positional relationship and thelike of each element and the aerosol generating device 100.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 100 includes areservoir 102, an atomizer 104, an inhalation sensor 106, an air intakeflow path 108, an aerosol flow path 110, a wick 112, a battery 114, anda mouthpiece member 116. Among these elements in the aerosol generatingdevice 100, some elements may be collectively provided as a removablecartridge. For example, the cartridge provided by integrating thereservoir 102 and the atomizer 104 may be configured to be removable inthe aerosol generating device 100.

The reservoir 102 may store the aerosol source. For example, thereservoir 102 may be formed of a fibrous or porous material, and maystore the aerosol source as a liquid in the interstices between fibersor the pores of the porous material. The reservoir 102 may be configuredas a tank for containing the liquid. The aerosol source may be apolyhydric alcohol such as glycerin and propylene glycol, a liquidcontaining an extract such as a nicotine component originated from thetobacco raw material, a liquid containing any agent, or the like.Particularly, the present invention is applicable to a medical nebulizeror the like, and in this case, the aerosol source may contain amedicinal agent. The reservoir 102 has a configuration in which theaerosol source can be replenished or is configured to be replaceablewhen the aerosol source is consumed. It should be noted that the aerosolsource may mean a flavor source or may include the flavor source.Furthermore, it should be noted that a plurality of reservoirs 102 maybe provided, each holding a different aerosol source. Note that theaerosol source may be in a solid state.

The atomizer 104 is configured to atomize the aerosol source to generatethe aerosol. The atomizer 104 generates the aerosol when inhalationaction is detected by the inhalation sensor 106 (for example, a pressureor flow sensor which detects a pressure or a flow rate of the air intakeflow path 108 or the aerosol flow path 110). Note that, in addition tothe pressure or flow sensor, an operation button operable by a user canbe provided to actuate the atomizer 104.

More specifically, in the aerosol generating device 100, parts of thewick 112 are configured to extend to the reservoir 102 and the atomizer104, respectively so that a part of the wick 112 connects between thereservoir 102 and the atomizer 104. The aerosol source is carried fromthe reservoir 102 to atomizer 104 by the capillary effect (action)produced in the wick, and is at least temporarily held in the wick. Theatomizer 104 includes a heater (load) (not illustrated) which iselectrically connected to a battery 114 so that power supplied to theheater is controlled by a controller 130 and a power controller 135which are described later. The heater is disposed to be in contact withor in proximity with the wick 112, and is configured to heat and atomizethe aerosol source transferred through the wick 112. Note that althougha glass fiber has been conventionally used as the wick 112, thecontroller 130 can control to supply the aerosol at the timing accordingto the feeling of the smoker even when a porous body such as ceramicshaving high specific heat is used as the wick 112. Here, the porous bodyhas pores therein, the pores being configured to perform transferringthe aerosol source to a position at which the heater can heat theaerosol source and/or holding the aerosol source at such a position bythe capillary effect (action).

The air intake flow path 108 and the aerosol flow path 110 are connectedto the atomizer 104. The air intake flow path 108 communicates with theoutside of the aerosol generating device 100. The aerosol generated inthe atomizer 104 is mixed with air that has been taken in through theair intake flow path 108, and is delivered to the aerosol flow path 110.It should be noted that in the present exemplary action, the mixed fluidof the aerosol generated in the atomizer 104 and the air may be simplyreferred to as aerosol.

The mouthpiece member 116 is positioned at an end of the aerosol flowpath 110 (i.e., on the downstream side of the atomizer 104), and is amember configured to make the aerosol flow path 110 open to the outsideof the aerosol generating device 100. The user holds the mouthpiecemember 116 to inhale the air containing the aerosol, so that the aircontaining the aerosol is carried into the mouth of the user.

The aerosol generating device 100 further includes the controller 130,the power controller 135, and a memory 140. In FIG. 1, a line connectingthe battery 114 and the power controller 135 and a line connecting thepower controller 135 and the atomizer 104 represent power supplied fromthe battery 114 to the atomizer 104 through the power controller 135. InFIG. 1, a double-headed arrow connecting two elements represents that asignal, data or information is transmitted between the two elements.Note that the aerosol generating device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 isexemplary, and in another aerosol generating device, for at least oneset of two elements connected by the double-headed arrow in FIG. 1, thesignal, data, or information may not be transmitted between the twoelements. Furthermore, in another aerosol generating device, for atleast one set of two elements connected by the double-headed arrow inFIG. 1, the signal, data, or information may be transmitted from the oneelement to the other element.

The controller 130 is an electronic circuit module formed as amicroprocessor or a microcomputer. The controller 130 is programmed tocontrol the operation of the aerosol generating device 100 in accordancewith a computer-executable instruction stored in the memory 140. Thecontroller 130 receives a signal from the sensor 106 and acquires theabove-described pressure or flow rate from the signal. Furthermore, thecontroller 130 receives a signal from the atomizer 104 and the battery114, and acquires heater temperature and remaining battery power fromthe signal. Furthermore, the controller 130 instructs the powercontroller 135 to control the power supplied from the battery 114 to theatomizer 104 by controlling the magnitude of at least one of thevoltage, current and power over a period of time. Note that controllingby the controller 130 the power supplied includes instructing by thecontroller 130 the power controller 135 to control the power supplied.

As described above, the power controller 135 controls the power suppliedfrom the battery 114 to the atomizer 104 by controlling the magnitude ofat least one of the voltage, current and power over a period of time.For example, a switch (contactor), a DC/DC converter, or the like may beused as the power controller 135, and the power controller 135 cancontrol any one of the voltage, current and power supplied from thebattery 114 to the atomizer 104 by using either pulse width modulation(PWM, Pulse Width Modulation) control or pulse frequency modulation(PFM, Pulse Frequency Modulation) control. Note that the powercontroller 135 is integrated with at least one of the atomizer 104, thebattery 114 and the controller 130 in some cases.

The memory 140 is an information storage medium such as a ROM, a RAM, ora flash memory. The memory 140 stores setting data required for controlof the aerosol generating device 100 in addition to thecomputer-executable instruction. The controller 130 can be configured tostore, in the memory 140, the data of measured values of the inhalationsensor 106 and the like.

Schematically, the controller 130 controls the power supplied forheating the aerosol source and/or the flavor source, that is, the powerto be supplied to at least the heater of the atomizer 104 in accordancewith at least a detection result of the inhalation sensor 106.Hereinafter, the operation of the controller 130 will be described indetail.

2 First Exemplary Operations of Controller 130

FIG. 2 is a flowchart 200 illustrating first exemplary operations of thecontroller 130.

2-1 Outline of Flowchart 200

Firstly, the outline of the flowchart 200 will be described.

In step S202, the controller 130 determines whether a measured valuefrom the inhalation sensor 106 exceeds a first threshold Thre1. If themeasured value exceeds the first threshold Thre1, the process proceedsto step S204, and if no, the process returns to step S202.

In step S204, the controller 130 starts a timer, and in step S206, thecontroller 130 controls to supply a power P1 to the heater of theatomizer 104 from the power source.

In step S208, the controller 130 determines whether an elapsed time ofthe timer reaches a predetermined time Δt1. If the elapsed time of thetimer does not reach Δt1, the process proceeds to step S210, and if yes,the process proceeds to step S216.

In step S210, the controller 130 determines whether the measured valuefrom the inhalation sensor 106 exceeds a second threshold Thre2 largerthan the first threshold Thre1. If the measured value exceeds the secondthreshold Thre2, the process proceeds to step S212, and if no, theprocess returns to step S208.

In step S212, the controller 130 controls to supply a power P2 largerthan the power P1 to the heater of the atomizer 104 from the powersource.

In step S214, the controller 130 determines whether a power supply stopcondition is satisfied. If the power supply stop condition is satisfied,the process proceeds to step S216, and if no, the process returns tostep S214.

In step S216, the controller 130 stops supplying the power.

2-2 Detail of Flowchart 200

Next, the operations of the flowchart 200 will be described in detail.

2-2-1 Measured Value

In the present exemplary operations, the measured values in steps S202and S204 each are not a value of a raw signal from the inhalation sensor106, for example, a voltage value but a value of pressure [Pa] or flowrate [m³/s] obtained from a value of the raw signal, and are intended tobe a positive value when the inhalation is performed. The measured valuemay be a value obtained after the raw signal is filtered by a low-passfilter or the like or a smoothed value such as a simple average valueand a moving average value. Note that it is needless to mention that avalue of the raw signal from the inhalation sensor 106 may be used as ameasured value. In this respect, the same is true for other exemplaryoperations shown below. Note that as dimensions of the pressure and theflow rate, for example, arbitrary unit systems such as [mmH₂O] and[L/min] may be used, respectively.

2-2-2 Threshold

The first threshold Thre1 in step S202 and the second threshold Thre2 instep S210 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B.

Reference numeral 310 shows actual measured values from the inhalationsensor 106 over a period of time when the inhalation is not performed.When the inhalation is not performed, ideal measured values from theinhalation sensor 106 over a period of time should be constant at a zerovalue, but the actual measured values 310 include variations from thezero value. These variations are caused by the vibration of air due topeople talking or the like in the surrounding environment of the aerosolgenerating device 100 or the background noise generated by thermaldisturbance or the like in the circuit. This background noise is furthergenerated by change in the atmospheric pressure of the surroundingenvironment of the aerosol generating device 100 or the impact appliedto the aerosol generating device 100. Furthermore, when an electrostaticcapacitance type MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) sensor is usedas the inhalation sensor 106, the output values from the sensor untilthe vibration of the electrode plate is convergent may also cause thisbackground noise. The first threshold Thre1 may be set to a value atwhich some background noise can be picked up to perform preheating withgood responsiveness. For example, in FIG. 3A, a part 311 of the measuredvalues 310 somewhat exceeds the first threshold Thre1. That is, it maybe expressed as:

Thre1−0˜N _(pmax)   (1)

wherein N_(pmax) represents a positive maximum value of the backgroundnoise over a period of time.

Reference numeral 320 shows the actual measured values including thebackground noise when the inhalation is performed by which the measuredvalue of about the first threshold Thre1 is obtained. The firstthreshold Thre1 is originally a value for detecting the inhalation insuch a level. The second threshold Thre2 may be set not to pick up thenoise even when the inhalation in this level is performed. That is, itmay be expressed as:

Thre1+N _(pmax)<Thre2   (2).

Considering now

Thre1−0=N _(pmax)   (3)

as a special case of the expression (1), the expression (2) may betransformed as follows.

Thre1+Thre1−0<Thre2

Thre1<Thre2−Thre1   (4)

The expression (4) shows that a difference between the second thresholdThre2 and the first threshold Thre1 being larger than the firstthreshold Thre1 enables a situation where the preheating is to beperformed without generating the aerosol to be clearly distinguishedfrom a situation where the aerosol is to be generated, withoutdetermining the magnitude of the background noise. In other words, thismeans that erroneous recognition between the first threshold Thre1 andthe second threshold Thre2 can be prevented, and when the power P1 andthe power P2 are set to appropriate values, the generation of theaerosol can be started at a correct timing, the power P1 being a powersupply amount when the measured value is larger than the first thresholdThre1 and smaller than or equal to the second threshold Thre2, and thepower P2 being a power supply amount when the measured value is largerthan the second threshold Thre2.

2-2-3 Power supply stop condition

An example of the power supply stop condition in step S214 is acondition that the measured value from the inhalation sensor 106 fallsbelow a third threshold Thre3 which is equal to or larger than thesecond threshold Thre2. Such a relationship among the third thresholdThre3, the second threshold Thre2 and the first threshold Thre1 will bedescribed in detail with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3 again.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the second threshold Thre2 may be set to becloser to the first threshold Thre1 than the third threshold Thre3.Setting the second threshold Thre2 in this manner enables the aerosolgeneration to be started earlier, so that supplying the power can bestopped earlier. The aerosol can be also generated with less ofunnatural feeling to the inhalation of the user.

Unlike FIGS. 3A and 3B, the second threshold Thre2 may be set to becloser to the third threshold Thre3 than the first threshold Thre1 or tobe equal to the third threshold Thre3. Setting the second thresholdThre2 in this manner makes it easier to avoid the forcible terminationof the aerosol generation even when the power supply stop condition is asimple condition that the measured value is smaller than or equal to thethird threshold Thre3, since the possibility that the measured value issmaller than or equal to the third threshold Thre3 when the process ofstep S214 is performed for the first time is reduced on an assumptionthat the measured value is gradually increased.

2-2-4 Power Source and Power

In step S206 and step S212, the power source is intended to at leastinclude the battery 114 and the power controller 135. In this regard,the same is true for other exemplary operations shown below.

In step S206 and step S212, the power supplied to the heater may beconstant over a period of time, or may change over a period of time sothat the power supply amount per unit time is constant. In the presentexemplary operations, it is intended that the values of the powers P1and P2 each are a power supply amount (energy) per unit time. However,it is intended that the length of the unit time is any length including1 s, and for example, the length of the unit time may be the length ofone PWM cycle when the PWM control is used for supplying the power. Notethat when the length of the unit time is not 1 s, the physicalquantities of the powers P1 and P2 are not “'(electric) powers,” but areexpressed as “powers” for the sake of convenience. In this respect, thesame is true for other exemplary operations shown below.

The powers P1 and P2 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.4. FIG. 4 is a graph showing changes in measured value 410 (solid line)of the inhalation sensor 106 over a period of time (hereinafter alsoreferred to as a “puff profile” or a “profile of the measured values”),and changes in power 420 (dotted line) supplied to the heater of theatomizer 104 over a period of time. FIG. 4 shows that the supply of thepower P1 is started at a time t1 when the measured value 410 exceeds thefirst threshold Thre1, the measured value 410 exceeds the secondthreshold Thre2 before a predetermined time Δt1 elapses after the supplyof the power P1 is started, resulting that the supply of the power P2 isstarted at a time t2 when the measured value 410 exceeds the secondthreshold Thre2, and supplying the power is stopped at a time t3 whenthe measured value 410 falls below the third threshold Thre3. Note thatthe determination at the time t1 corresponds to the determination instep S202 in the flowchart of FIG. 2, the determination at the time t2corresponds to the determination in step S210 in the flowchart of FIG.2, the determination at the time t3 corresponds to the determination instep S214 in the flowchart of FIG. 2, and the predetermined time Δt1corresponds to Δt1 in step S208 in the flowchart of FIG. 2.

It should be noted that the puff profile represented in FIG. 4 is asimplified example for purposes of illustration. The controller 130 cancontrol the power supplied based on a puff profile based on the measuredvalues obtained during a single cycle period such as in a single powersupply cycle, a puff profile based on an average of the measured valuesobtained over periods of multiple cycles, a puff profile based on aregression analysis of the measured values obtained over periods ofmultiple cycles, or the like. Note that the “power supply cycle”includes the period from the start to the end of supplying the power,and may be the period from when the measured value exceeds zero or apredetermined minute value to when the measured value returns to zero orfalls below the predetermined minute value, or the period in which apredetermined time is added to the beginning and/or the ending of such aperiod. The period from the left end to the right end of the time axisof the graph shown in FIG. 4 is an example of the “power supply cycle.”In this regard, the same is true for other exemplary operations shownbelow.

The power P1 is a power supplied for the period during which themeasured value 410 is larger than the first threshold Thre1 and issmaller than or equal to the second threshold Thre2. When the power P1supplied for this period is used as preheating of the heater of theatomizer 104, the power P1 must satisfy the following expression.

J _(atomize) /Δt1>P1/Δt _(unit)   (5)

wherein J_(atomize) represents the minimum energy required to cause theatomization in the atomizer 104. Note that J_(atomize) may betheoretically or experimentally obtained based on a composition of theaerosol source and a configuration of the heater of the atomizer 104.Δt_(unit) represents a length of the unit time, and when the length ofthe unit time is 1 s, “/Δt_(unit)” may be omitted. Note that J_(atomize)may not necessarily be a fixed value, and may be a variable varyingdepending on the conditions and the other variable. By way of example,the controller 130 may correct J_(atomize) based on a remaining amountof the aerosol source.

The power P2 is a power supplied when the measured value 410 exceeds thesecond threshold Thre2, thereby causing the atomization in the atomizer104. Accordingly, the power P2 is preferably a value as large aspossible without adversely affecting the atomizer 104, for example,without causing failure of the heater due to overheating, and cansatisfy at least the following condition.

P2>P1   (6)

When satisfying the expression (5), the power P1 can be made as large aspossible, thereby reducing the predetermined time period Δt1.Accordingly, the power P1 satisfying zero value<P1<P2 may be set to becloser to P2 than the zero value.

2-2-5 Processing Derived from Flowchart 200

A series of steps included in the flowchart 200 show an example of theprocessing in which the power supply amount from the power source whenthe measured value from the inhalation sensor 106 is larger than thefirst threshold Thre1 and smaller than or equal to the second thresholdThre2 is at most predetermined value (power P1×predetermined time Δt1).

According to such processing, when the power supply amount from thepower source when the measured value from the inhalation sensor 106 islarger than the first threshold Thre1 and smaller than or equal to thesecond threshold Thre2 is a first value, the first value necessarilybecomes smaller than or equal to the predetermined value, and thereforethe power supplied can be controlled so that the power supply amountwhen the measured value is larger than the second threshold Thre2 islarger than the first value. Accordingly, such processing leads toreduction in wasteful power consumption and wasteful consumption of theaerosol source even when the first threshold Thre1 is set at a valuewhich is often unintentionally exceeded by the measured value due to theinfluence of background noise, for example.

The above-described predetermined value may be less than the powersupply amount when the aerosol generation is started in the atomizer104. The power supply amount as the first value does not cause theatomization in the atomizer 104, but the heater of the atomizer 104 ispreheated using such a value. Preheating enables the intended aerosolgeneration to be started with good responsiveness without causingwasteful consumption of the aerosol source and without affecting thesurroundings due to unintentional aerosol generation. From anotherviewpoint, at least one of the power for applying the power supplyamount as the first value or the amount of power P1 per unit time andthe predetermined time Δt1 may be set such that the first value is lessthan or equal to the power supply amount when the generation of theaerosol from the aerosol source is started. Note that the predeterminedtime Δt1 may be set between the predetermined upper limit and lowerlimit. Examples of the upper limit of the predetermined time Δt1 include500 msec, 300 msec, and 100 msec. Examples of the lower limit of thepredetermined time Δt1 include 10 msec and 30 msec.

A series of steps included in the flowchart 200 show an example of theprocessing in which supplying the power is stopped when the measuredvalue does not exceed the second threshold Thre2 within thepredetermined time Δt1 after the measured value exceeds the firstthreshold value Thre1 or the supply of the power P1 is started.According to such processing, the noise does not cause a situation inwhich the energization almost continues even when the first thresholdThre1 associated with the start of the energization is set to asensitive value, which may cause picking up of noise, and therefore theamount of charges stored in the power source can be prevented from beingreduced.

2-3 Variation of Flowchart 200

Furthermore, variation of the flowchart 200 will be described.

As described above, both of the pressure or flow sensor and an operationbutton can be used as the inhalation sensor 106. When the operationbutton is provided as the inhalation sensor 106, in step S202, thecontroller 130 may determine not whether the measured value exceeds thefirst threshold Thre1 but whether the operation button is pressed.

Step S206 may be performed before step S204, or step S204 and step S206may be performed simultaneously (in parallel).

Another example of the power supply stop condition in step S214 is acondition that the measured value from the inhalation sensor 106 fallsbelow the third threshold Thre3 after the power source supplies thepower of a second value. The second value is a minimum power supplyamount from the power source when the measured value exceeds the secondthreshold Thre2, and may be larger than the above-described first valuewhich is the power supply amount before the measured value exceeds thesecond threshold Thre2. In this case, the power supply amount before themeasured value exceeds the second threshold Thre2 is smaller than thesecond value.

Furthermore, the flowchart 200 may be modified so that step S204 isremoved, and step S208 is modified to the step in which the controller130 determines whether the total power supply amount at the moment ofthe step is smaller than or equal to the predetermined value. A seriesof steps included in the modified flowchart 200 show another example ofthe processing in which the power supply amount from the power sourcewhen the measured value of the inhalation sensor 106 is larger than thefirst threshold Thre1 and smaller than or equal to the second thresholdThre2 is at most predetermined value (power P1×predetermined time Δt1).It should be noted that the processing is not limited to theabove-described two examples.

3 Second Exemplary Operations of Controller 130

FIG. 5A is a flowchart 500 illustrating second exemplary operations ofthe controller 130.

3-1 Outline of Flowchart 500

Firstly, the outline of the flowchart 500 will be described.

In step S502, the controller 130 determines whether a first condition issatisfied. If the first condition is satisfied, the process proceeds tostep S504, and if no, the process returns to step S502. In step S504,the controller 130 controls to increase a value of power supplied (apower supply amount per unit time as described above. Hereinafter,referred to as a “unit amount of power supplied”) to the heater of theatomizer 104.

In step S506, the controller 130 determines whether a second conditionis satisfied. If the second condition is satisfied, the process proceedsto step S508, and if no, the process returns to step S506. In step S508,the controller 130 determines whether a third condition is satisfied. Ifthe third condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S510, andif no, the process returns to step S506. In step S510, the controller130 controls to decrease the unit amount of power supplied.

In step S512, the controller 130 determines whether a fourth conditionis satisfied. If the fourth condition is satisfied, the process proceedsto step S514 in which the controller 130 controls to increase the unitamount of power supplied, and if no, the processing of the flowchart 500is ended.

3-2 Detail of Flowchart 500

Next, the operations of the flowchart 500 will be described in detail.

3-2-1 First Condition

The first condition in step S502 may be a condition that the measuredvalue from the inhalation sensor 106 exceeds the first threshold Thre1or the second threshold Thre2.

3-2-2 Second Condition

The second condition in step S506 may be a condition that the measuredvalue from the inhalation sensor 106 falls below the third thresholdThre3. Here, the third threshold Thre3 may be updated.

As a first example of the updating technique of the third thresholdThre3, the controller 130 can calculate and store the maximum value ofthe measured values every period from when supplying the power isstarted to when supplying the power is stopped or every power supplycycle, and update the third threshold Thre3 based on the plurality ofmaximum values calculated by the controller 130.

More specifically, the controller 130 can update the third thresholdThre3 based on the average v_(max_ave) which is derived from theplurality of maximum values calculated by the controller 130. An exampleof the simple average calculation is described below.

$\begin{matrix}\left\lbrack {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 1} \right\rbrack & \; \\{v_{\max \_ {ave}} = \frac{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N}\; {v_{\max}(i)}}{N}} & (7)\end{matrix}$

Also, an example of the weighted average calculation is described below.

$\begin{matrix}\left\lbrack {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 2} \right\rbrack & \; \\{v_{\max \_ {ave}} = \frac{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N}\; {\left( \frac{N - i + 1}{N} \right)^{- 1} \times {v_{\max}(i)}}}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N}\; \left( \frac{N - i + 1}{N} \right)^{- 1}}} & (8)\end{matrix}$

wherein, in the expressions (7) and (8), N represents the number ofperiods in which the maximum value is calculated, and v_(max)(i)represents the maximum value in the i-th period (the larger the value ofi is, the newer the maximum value is). Such an average calculation isuseful when the aerosol generating device 100 is used for a long periodof time. Particularly, according to the weighted average calculation, agreater weight can be assigned to the maximum value calculated in a morerecent period from when supplying the power is started to when supplyingthe power thus started is stopped, to thereby accommodate changes inpuff profiles when the aerosol generating device 100 is used for a longperiod of time.

An example of an expression used to obtain a value to update the thirdthreshold Thre3 is described below.

Thre3=V _(max_ave)×α  (9)

wherein, α is a value larger than zero and smaller than or equal to 1,and the third threshold Thre3 is preferably a value larger than thesecond threshold Thre2.

As a second example of the updating technique of the third thresholdThre3, the controller 130 can store changes in the measured values,i.e., a profile every period from when supplying the power is started towhen supplying the power is stopped or every power supply cycle, andupdate the third threshold Thre3 based on the changes in the pluralityof measurement values stored by the controller 130. Particularly, thethird threshold Thre3 can be updated based on a value obtained bysubtracting a predetermined value Δt2 from an average valueΔt_(duration_ave) of the duration during which the measured valuechanges (for example, a length of the time from when the measured valueexceeds zero or a predetermined minute value to when the measured valuereturns to zero or falls below the predetermined minute value). Anexample of an expression used to obtain a value to update the thirdthreshold Thre3 is described below.

Thre3=v(Δt _(duration_ave) −Δt2)

wherein, referring to FIG. 6A, v(t) is a function that represents a puffprofile 610, and Δt_(duration_ave) and Δt2 correspond to the times shownin FIG. 6A. It should be noted that the puff profile represented in FIG.6A is intended to be based on the average of the measured valuesobtained in periods of multiple cycles, but is a simplified example forpurposes of illustration.

Note that, in the present embodiment, a length of the time from when themeasured value exceeds zero or a predetermined minute value to when themeasured value returns to zero or falls below the predetermined minutevalue is used to determine the duration of the measured values.Alternatively, a length of the time until the measured value falls belowzero or the predetermined minute value a plurality of times insuccession may be used. In addition to these, the time derivative of themeasured values may be used.

3-2-3 Comparison between First Condition and Second Condition

When the thermal capacity of the wick 112 is large, the controller 130preferably controls to advance the timing at which the unit amount ofpower supplied is increased and the timing at which the unit amount ofpower supplied is decreased, to generate the aerosol without unnaturalfeel to the inhalation of the user. That is, considering the ideal userprofile in which the measured value is successively increased to reachthe maximum value, and then is successively decreased to reach zero, thefirst threshold Thre1 or the second threshold Thre2 used in the firstcondition in step S502 of FIG. 5A is preferably a value smaller than thethird threshold Thre3 used in the second condition in step S506 of FIG.5A.

However, when the controller 130 increases or decreases the unit amountof power supplied only using the first condition and the secondcondition without using a third condition described later, the followingproblem may occurs. Since the first threshold Thre1 or the secondthreshold Thre2 used in the first condition is smaller than the thirdthreshold Thre3 used in the second condition, the second condition issatisfied immediately after the first condition is satisfied, andtherefore the unit amount of power supplied is decreased before theaerosol generation is performed by the increased unit amount of powersupplied. More specifically, in step S506, it is determined whether themeasured value which has exceeded the first threshold Thre1 or thesecond threshold Thre2 used in the first condition in step S502 fallsbelow the third threshold Thre3. Considering that the measured valuesideally successively change, and the control period and calculationspeed of the controller 130, the measured value immediately after themeasured value has exceeded the first threshold Thre1 or the secondthreshold Thre2 is highly likely to be smaller than the third threshold.

If a user profile changes ideally, the maximum value of the user profilehas the same meaning as a maximal value. For example, the problem can beeasily solved by calculating the changes in the measured values in theuser profile changing in real time, and determining whether the measuredvalue falls below the third threshold after the measured value reachesthe maximum value (maximal value). However, since a real user profilehas great differences among individuals, and the background noise iscontained in the measured values shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, aplurality of maximal values are present. Therefore, the problem cannotbe solved. In the present embodiment, a third condition is introduced tosolve this problem.

3-2-4 Third Condition

The third condition in step S508 is a condition that is different fromthe first condition and the second condition. Accordingly, the thirdcondition may be any condition that is not satisfied at the same time asthe first condition. Such a third condition makes it possible tosuppress such a situation where the unit amount of power supplied isdecreased immediately after the first condition is satisfied and theunit amount of power supplied is increased. The third condition is anycondition that can be satisfied after the second condition is satisfied(in other words, the second condition is satisfied prior to the thirdcondition). According to such a third condition, the unit amount ofpower supplied is not decreased quickly even when the measured valuefrom the inhalation sensor 106 is smaller than or equal to the thirdthreshold Thre3, whereby the power can continues to be supplied.

3-2-4-1 Third Condition Based on Measured Values

The third condition may be based on the measured values from theinhalation sensor 106. Such a third condition makes it possible to avoidthe situation where the unit amount of power supplied is decreasedimmediately after the unit amount of power supplied is increased, whiletaking into consideration the intensity of the inhalation.

More specifically, a first example of the third condition is a conditionbased on the time derivative of the measured values. According to such acondition, by considering the changes in the intensity of theinhalation, it can be determined whether the unit amount of powersupplied is decreased according to the feeling of the user. Morespecifically, the third condition may be a condition that the timederivative of the measured values is smaller than or equal to zero orthe fourth threshold Thre4 which is smaller than zero. According to sucha condition, the unit amount of power supplied is not decreased during aperiod in which the intensity of the inhalation continues to increase.

Note that, as described above, the background noise is contained intothe measured values. Accordingly, strictly speaking, even when theintensity of the inhalation continues to increase, the time derivativeof the measured values may be smaller than zero. The third condition maybe a condition that the time derivative of the measured values issmaller than or equal to the fourth threshold Thre4 which is smallerthan zero, whereby the unit amount of power supplied is not decreasedeven when the time derivative of the measured values becomes negativeinstantaneously. Note that the absolute value of the fourth thresholdThre4 being excessively large, results in an inability to recognize thatthe intensity of the inhalation continues to decrease and the end of thepuff is approaching. Accordingly, the fourth threshold Thre4 may be setin consideration of the magnitude of the background noise to increasethe accuracy.

When the magnitude of the background noise is considered, a fixed valuetaking account of the magnitude of the background noise whenmanufacturing the aerosol generating device 100 may be stored as thefourth threshold Thre4 in the memory 140. Alternatively, beforeimplementing the flowchart 500, a change of the background noise overtime continues to be stored in the memory 140 in a form of calibration,and the fourth threshold Thre4 may be set based on the maximum value orthe average value which are derived from the change of the backgroundnoise.

In the present embodiment, the condition that the time derivative of themeasured values is smaller than or equal to zero or the fourth thresholdThre4 which is smaller than zero is used as the third condition.Alternatively, the condition that the time derivative of the measuredvalues is smaller than or equal to zero or the fourth threshold Thre4which is smaller than zero is satisfied over a predetermined time insuccession may be used as the third condition. This is because when thebackground noise changes as shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the timederivative of the measured values is not continuously zero or smallerthan or equal to the fourth threshold Thre4 which is smaller than zero,while the intensity of the inhalation continues to increase.

A second example of the third condition is a condition that the measuredvalue falls below the second threshold Thre2 after exceeding a fifththreshold Thre5 which is equal to or larger than the second thresholdThre2. According to such a condition, the fifth threshold Thre5 is setto be close to an assumed maximum value, whereby the unit amount ofpower supplied can be controlled not to decrease until the measuredvalue reaches at least the vicinity of the maximum value.

Here, the fifth threshold Thre5 can be updated.

As a first example of the updating technique of the fifth thresholdThre5, the controller 130 can calculate and store the maximum value ofthe measured values every period from when supplying the power isstarted to when supplying the power is stopped or every power supplycycle, and update the fifth threshold Thre5 based on the plurality ofmaximum values calculated by the controller 130. More specifically, thecontroller 130 can update the fifth threshold Thre5 based on an averagevalue of the plurality of maximum values calculated by the controller130. The above-described average calculation in association withupdating of the third threshold Thre3 can be used as the averagecalculation for obtaining the average value. A value to update the fifththreshold Thre5 can be obtained as follows.

Thre5=v _(max_ave) −Δv1   (10)

wherein Δv1 is a given value which is equal to or more than zero. Byupdating the fifth threshold Thre5, an appropriate magnitude value isset for the fifth threshold Thre5, thereby reducing the likelihood thatthe unit amount of power supplied decreases at inappropriate timing.

As a second example of the updating technique of the fifth thresholdThre5, the controller 130 can firstly update the third threshold Thre3,and then update the fifth threshold Thre5 to be equal to or larger thanthe updated third threshold Thre3. An example of an expression used toobtain a value to update the fifth threshold Thre5 is described below.

Thre5=Thre3+Δv2   (11)

wherein Δv2 is a given value which is equal to or more than zero.

3-2-4-2 Third Condition Based on Dead Period

A dead period may be used as the third condition. That is, a thirdexample of the third condition is a condition that a predetermined deadperiod Δt_(dead) has elapsed since the first condition was satisfied.Such a third condition makes it possible to suppress such a situationwhere the unit amount of power supplied is decreased immediately afterthe unit amount of power supplied is increased because the unit amountof power supplied is not decreased until at least the dead period haselapsed.

The dead period Δt_(dead) can be updated. For example, the controller130 can calculate at least one of a first required time from when thefirst condition is satisfied to when the measured value reaches themaximum value and a second required time from when the first conditionis satisfied to when the first condition is not satisfied every powersupply cycle, and update the dead period Δt_(dead) based on at least oneof a plurality of first required times and a plurality of secondrequired times.

More specifically, the controller 130 can update the dead periodΔt_(dead) based on at least one of an average value of the plurality offirst required times and an average value of the plurality of secondrequired times. An example of the simple average calculation isdescribed below.

$\begin{matrix}\left\lbrack {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 3} \right\rbrack & \; \\{{\Delta \; t_{ave}} = \frac{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N}\; {\Delta \; {t(i)}}}{N}} & (12)\end{matrix}$

Also, an example of the weighted average calculation is described below.

$\begin{matrix}\left\lbrack {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 4} \right\rbrack & \; \\{{\Delta \; t_{ave}} = \; \frac{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N}\; {\left( \frac{N - i + 1}{N} \right)^{- 1} \times \Delta \; {t(i)}}}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N}\; \left( \frac{N - i + 1}{N} \right)^{- 1}}} & (13)\end{matrix}$

Note that, in the expressions (12) and (13), N represents the number ofperiods in which the first required time or the second required time iscalculated, and Δt(i) represents the first required period or the secondrequired period in the i-th period (the larger the value of i is, thenewer the first required time or the second required time is). Such anaverage calculation is useful when the aerosol generating device 100 isused for a long period of time. Particularly, according to the weightedaverage calculation, a greater weight can be assigned to the firstrequired period or the second required period which are calculated in amore recent period from when supplying the power is started to whensupplying the power thus started is stopped, to thereby accommodatechanges in puff profiles when the aerosol generating device 100 is usedfor a long period of time.

Three examples of an expression used to obtain a value to update thedead period Δt_(dead) are described below.

$\begin{matrix}\left\lbrack {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 5} \right\rbrack & \; \\{{{{\Delta \; t_{dead}} = {t_{\max \_ {ave}} - t_{{{over}\_ {Thre}1}{\_ {ave}}} + {\Delta \; t\; 3}}}{\Delta \; t_{dead}} = {t_{{{under}\_ {Thre}1}{\_ {ave}}} - t_{{{over}\_ {Thre}1}{\_ {ave}}} - {\Delta \; t\; 4}}}{{\Delta \; t_{dead}} = {\frac{t_{\max \_ {ave}} + t_{{{under}\_ {Thre}1}{\_ {ave}}}}{2} - {t_{{{over}\_ {Thre}1}{\_ {ave}}} \pm {\Delta \; t\; 5}}}}} & (14)\end{matrix}$

Here, for the relationship of each variable in the above-describedexpressions, see

FIG. 6B. Particularly, in the expressions, t_(over_Thre1_ave) representsan average value of the period from when the measured value exceeds zeroor the predetermined minute value until the first condition issatisfied. Accordingly, in the expression,t_(max_ave)−t_(over_Thre1_ave) corresponds to the average value of theabove-described first required times. In the expressions,t^(under_Thre1_ave) represents an average value of the period from whenthe measured value exceeds zero or the predetermined minute value untilthe first condition is not satisfied. Accordingly, in the expression,t_(under_Thre1_ave)−t_(over_Thre1_ave) corresponds to the average valueof the above-described second required times. The magnitudes of Δt3,Δt4, and Δt5 are given values that are equal to or more than zero, andare preferably set so that a value indicated by reference numeral 640 inFIG. 6B becomes the third threshold Thre3. By updating the dead periodΔt_(dead), an appropriate magnitude value is set for the dead periodΔt_(dead), thereby reducing the likelihood that the unit amount of powersupplied decreases at unexpected timing.

3-2-4-3 Other Third Condition

A fourth example of the third condition is a condition that at the timeof determining the third condition, a predetermined time or more haselapsed since the measured value output until the third condition isdetermined became maximum.

3-2-4-4 Selection of Third Condition

The third condition can be selected from a plurality of thirdconditions. FIG. 7 is a graph showing various puff profiles. As can beseen from FIG. 7, suitable third conditions are different according tothe puff profile. For example, since the puff profile indicated byreference numeral 710 has a maximal value before reaching the maximumvalue, in other words, the time derivative of the measured valuesbecomes a negative value before the profile reaches the maximum value,the third condition using a derivative value (first example) isdifficult to use. Since the puff profile indicated by reference numeral720 generally has small measured values, the third condition using aplurality of thresholds (second example) is difficult to provide asignificant difference among the measured values with respect to aplurality of thresholds, and is difficult to use. Furthermore, since thepuff profile indicated by 730 requires a long period until the profilereaches the maximum value, the third condition using a dead period(third example) is difficult to use. Accordingly, the controller 130 canimplement the selection mode in which the third condition is selectablefrom a third condition group including a plurality of third conditions.Particularly, the controller 130 can store the measured values from theinhalation sensor 106, and select the third condition from the thirdcondition group based on the stored measured values, for example, thepuff profile based on the stored measured values.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method 800 of selectingthe third condition from the third condition group. Note that in FIG. 8,the number of third conditions included in the third condition group isassumed to be three of the third conditions A, B, and C, but the thirdcondition group may include any number of third conditions that isgreater than one.

In step S810, the controller 130 determines whether an exclusioncondition of the third condition A is satisfied. The exclusion conditionof the third condition A may be a condition based on the time derivativeof the stored measured values, for example, that the measured values hasthe maximal value. When the exclusion condition of the third condition Ais satisfied, the process proceeds to step S815, the third condition Ais excluded from the candidates in step S815, and the process furtherproceeds to step S820. When the exclusion condition of the thirdcondition A is not satisfied in step S810, the process proceeds to stepS820, and therefore, in this case, the third condition A is not excludedfrom the candidates.

Steps S820 and S830 are steps corresponding to step S810, in whichdeterminations are made concerning the third conditions B and C,respectively, the third conditions B and C being different from thethird condition A. Here, the exclusion condition of the third conditionB may be a condition based on the maximum value of the measured values,for example, that the measured values are generally small. The exclusioncondition of the third condition C may be a condition based on theduration during which the measured value changes, for example, a longperiod is required until the measured value reaches the maximum value.Steps S825 and S835 are steps corresponding to step S815, in which thethird conditions B and C are excluded from the candidates, respectively,the third conditions B and C being different from the third condition A.

In step S840, the controller 130 selects the third condition from thethird conditions remaining as candidates. Note that when a plurality ofcandidates remain, the controller 130 can select one third conditionfrom the remaining candidates. If no candidate remains, the controller130 may select any third condition included in the third conditiongroup. Possible examples of a method in which the controller 130 selectsone or more third conditions from the plurality of third conditionsinclude random selection, selection according to a priority order set inadvance, user selection, and the like. Note that the aerosol generatingdevice 100 includes input means (not illustrated) for receiving the userselection. The aerosol generating device 100 may include communicationmeans (not illustrated) for connecting to a computer such as asmartphone through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or the like, to receive the userselection from the connected computer.

In step S850, the controller 130 acquires the selected third condition.Acquiring the selected third condition includes acquiring the programaccording to an algorithm to determine such a condition. One or morethird conditions which may be acquired from the third condition groupmay be stored in the memory 140 in advance, may be acquired from theoutside, for example, the above-described computer such as a smartphone,or may be downloaded from the internet through the above-describedcommunication means. When the third condition is acquired from theoutside or from the internet, advantages can be obtained in that it isnot necessary to store all of the third conditions included in the thirdcondition group in the memory 140, thereby enabling free space of thememory 140 to be secured for other uses, it is not necessary to mount ahigh capacity memory 140, whereby the costs of the aerosol generatingdevice 100 can be reduced, and it is not necessary to mount a largememory 140, whereby the aerosol generating device 100 can beminiaturized.

In step S860, the controller 130 configures itself to determine whetherthe selected third condition is satisfied.

3-2-5 Fourth Condition

The fourth condition in step S512 is a condition that the timederivative of the measured values from the inhalation sensor 106 exceedszero within a predetermined return period from when the second conditionand the third condition are satisfied. According to such a fourthcondition, when the unit amount of power supplied is decreased due tothe noise or a slight reduction in the inhalation intensity, the unitamount of power supplied can be rapidly increased, thereby improving theusability of the aerosol generating device 100.

3-2-6 Increase in Unit Amount of Power Supplied

In step S504, the increase in the unit amount of power supplied may bean increase from zero value to the unit amount of power supplied havinga magnitude. This increase may be gradual, and for example, the unitamount of power supplied may be gradually increased from zero value to afirst unit amount of power supplied, and then from the first unit amountof power supplied to a second unit amount of power supplied which islarger than the first unit amount of power supplied.

The increase in the unit amount of power supplied in step S514 may be anincrease from zero value to the unit amount of power supplied having amagnitude which is increased in step S504.

3-2-7 Decrease in Unit Amount of Power Supplied

In step S510, the decrease in the unit amount of power supplied may be adecrease to zero value from the unit amount of power supplied having amagnitude.

3-3 Variation of Flowchart 500

Furthermore, variation of the flowchart 500 will be described.

Step S508 may be performed before step S506, or step S506 and step S508may be performed simultaneously (in parallel).

Step S508 may be modified so that when the third condition is notsatisfied within a predetermined determination period from when thefirst condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S510. Thismakes it possible to decrease the unit amount of power supplied evenwhen the third condition is not satisfied, to thereby avoid thesituation where the energization is not stopped.

Steps S504 to S510 may be replaced with steps S504′ to S510′ illustratedin FIG. 5B, respectively. That is, the controller 130 may increase theunit amount of power supplied in step S504′, and then determine, in stepS508′, whether the third condition is satisfied. If the third conditionis satisfied, the process proceeds to step S506′, and if no, the processreturns to step S508′. Furthermore, the controller 130 determines, instep S506′, whether the second condition is satisfied. If the secondcondition is satisfied, the process may proceed to step S510′ todecrease the unit amount of power supplied, and if no, the process mayreturn to step S506′. According to the variation illustrated in FIG. 5B,the controller 130 controls to decrease the unit amount of powersupplied when the second condition is satisfied after the thirdcondition is satisfied, the third condition being different from thefirst condition and the second condition.

4 Third Exemplary Operations of Controller 130

FIG. 9 is a flowchart 900 illustrating third exemplary operations of thecontroller 130.

4-1 Outline of Flowchart 900

Firstly, the outline of the flowchart 900 will be described.

In step S902, the controller 130 determines whether a fifth condition issatisfied. If the fifth condition is satisfied, the process proceeds tostep S904, and if no, the process returns to step S902. In step S904,the controller 130 controls to increase the unit amount of powersupplied.

In step S906, the controller 130 determines whether a sixth condition issatisfied, the sixth condition not being satisfied in a predeterminedadjustment period from when the fifth condition is satisfied. If thesixth condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S908, and ifno, the process returns to step S906. In step S908, the controller 130controls to decrease the unit amount of power supplied.

4-2 Detail of Flowchart 900

Next, the operations of the flowchart 900 will be described in detail.

An example of the fifth condition in step S902 corresponds to theabove-described first condition, and an example of the sixth conditionin step S906 corresponds to the condition based on the dead period whichhas been described above with reference to the third condition. Thepredetermined adjustment period in step S906 is preferably equal to orlonger than a control period (one step is performed for each one controlperiod) of the controller 130. According to such a sixth condition, thecondition for decreasing the unit amount of power supplied is satisfiedimmediately after the condition for increasing the unit amount of powersupplied is satisfied, which makes it possible to avoid the situationwhere power cannot be substantially supplied indefinitely.

Steps S904 and S908 correspond to steps S504 and S510 of the flowchart500, respectively.

5 Fourth Exemplary Operations of Controller 130

FIG. 10 is a flowchart 1000 illustrating fourth exemplary operations ofthe controller 130.

5-1 Outline of Flowchart 1000

Firstly, the outline of the flowchart 1000 will be described.

In step S1002, the controller 130 determines whether all of the one ormore conditions included in the first condition group are satisfied. Ifall of the one or more conditions are satisfied, the process proceeds tostep S1004, and if no, the process returns to step S1002. In step S1004,the controller 130 controls to increase the unit amount of powersupplied.

In step S1006, the controller 130 determines whether all of the one ormore conditions included in the second condition group are satisfied. Ifall of the one or more conditions are satisfied, the process proceeds tostep S1008, and if no, the process returns to step S1006. In step S1008,the controller 130 controls to decrease the unit amount of powersupplied.

5-2 Detail of Flowchart 1000

Next, the operations of the flowchart 1000 will be described in detail.

The number of conditions included in the first condition group can besmaller than the number of conditions included in the second conditiongroup. This makes it more difficult to satisfy the conditions fordecreasing the unit amount of power supplied than the conditions forincreasing the unit amount of power supplied, whereby the unit amount ofpower supplied does not decrease easily.

More specifically, each of the first condition group and the secondcondition group may include at least one condition involving a commonvariable. This makes it possible to guarantee the certainty of increaseand decrease in the unit amount of power supplied. For example, thecommon variables can be based on the measured values of the inhalationsensor 106, which makes it possible to control the supplied power withthe user's intention reflected thereon. The condition involving a commonvariable may be a condition that an absolute value of the commonvariable is equal to or larger than a threshold, larger than athreshold, smaller than or equal to a threshold, or smaller than athreshold, and a threshold in the condition involving the commonvariable included in the first condition group may be different from athreshold in the condition involving the common variable included in thesecond condition group. At this time, the former threshold may besmaller than the latter threshold. This makes it possible to advance thetiming from the increase of the unit amount of power supplied to thedecrease of the unit amount of power supplied.

Note that examples of one or more conditions included in the firstcondition group are the above-described first conditions, and examplesof one or more conditions included in the second condition group are theabove-described second conditions and third conditions. Steps S1004 andS1008 correspond to steps S504 and S510 of the flowchart 500,respectively. One or more conditions included in the first conditiongroup are not limited only to the above-described first conditions, andother conditions may be used instead of or in addition to the firstconditions. Similarly, one or more conditions included in the secondcondition group are not limited to the above-described second conditionsand third conditions, and other conditions may be used instead of or inaddition to these conditions.

6 Fifth Exemplary Operations of Controller 130

FIG. 11 is a flowchart 1100 illustrating fifth exemplary operations ofthe controller 130.

6-1 Outline of Flowchart 1100

Firstly, the outline of the flowchart 1100 will be described.

In step S1102, the controller 130 determines whether a seventh conditionis satisfied. If the seventh condition is satisfied, the processproceeds to step S1104, and if no, the process returns to step S1102. Instep S1104, the controller 130 controls to increase the unit amount ofpower supplied.

In step S1106, the controller 130 determines whether an eighth conditionseverer than the seventh condition is satisfied. If the eighth conditionis satisfied, the process proceeds to step S1108, and if no, the processreturns to step S1106. In step S1108, the controller 130 controls todecrease the unit amount of power supplied.

6-2 Detail of Flowchart 1100

The seventh condition in step S1102 may be a condition that is anecessary condition but not a sufficient condition of the eighthcondition in step S1106. From another viewpoint, an example of theseventh condition may be the above-described first condition, and anexample of the eighth condition may be a combination of theabove-described second condition and third condition. To satisfy such aneighth condition, it is necessary to satisfy a complex conditioncomprising the combination of the second condition and the thirdcondition. This makes it more difficult to satisfy the conditions fordecreasing the unit amount of power supplied than the conditions forincreasing the unit amount of power supplied, whereby the unit amount ofpower supplied does not decrease easily. The difference in the degree ofseverity between the seventh condition and the eighth condition shouldnot be construed as being limited to the above description. For example,when the possibility that the eighth condition is satisfied is lowerthan the possibility that the seventh condition is satisfied, it can besaid that the eighth condition is severer than the seventh condition.For example, when the eighth condition is not simultaneously satisfiedeven when the seventh condition is satisfied, it can be said that theeighth condition is severer than the seventh condition.

Steps S1104 and S1108 correspond to steps S504 and S510 of the flowchart500, respectively.

7 Sixth Exemplary Operations of Controller 130

FIG. 12 is a flowchart 1200 illustrating sixth exemplary operations ofthe controller 130.

7-1 Outline of Flowchart 1200

Firstly, the outline of the flowchart 1200 will be described.

In step S1202, the controller 130 acquires the measured values of theinhalation sensor 106 which are measured values representing firstphysical quantities for controlling the power supplied. In step S1204,the controller 130 stores changes in the measured values representingthe first physical quantities, i.e., the profiles. In step S1206, thecontroller 130 controls the supplied power by controlling secondphysical quantities which are different from the first physicalquantities, based on the acquired measured values representing the firstphysical quantities and at least part of the stored profiles of themeasured values representing the first physical quantities. Examples ofthe second physical quantities are current values associated with powersupplied, voltage values, current values, and the like.

7-2 Detail of Flowchart 1200

Next, the operations of the flowchart 1200 will be described in detail.

7-2-1 Storing Profile of Measurement Values

Examples of storing the profiles of the measured values representing thefirst physical quantities for controlling the power supplied in stepS1204 include storing, in the memory 140, both of the measured valuesrepresenting the first physical quantities acquired in step S1202 andtimes when the measured values representing the first physicalquantities are acquired. It should be noted that step S1202 is performedat least more than once. The controller 130 can store the profile of themeasured values representing the first physical quantities every powersupply cycle including a period from when supplying the power is startedto when supplying the power is stopped. That is, the controller 130 canstore the profile of the measured values corresponding to the powersupply cycle.

7-2-2 Power Supply Control Based on Profile of Stored Measured Values

The controller 130 can determine a first profile and/or a secondprofile, the first profile being a profile of the measured valuesrepresenting the first physical quantities for controlling the powersupplied, the profile corresponding to one power supply cycle of aplurality of past power supply cycles each including a period from whensupplying the power is started to when supplying the power is stopped,and the second profile being a profile of the measured valuesrepresenting average first physical quantities derived from a pluralityof first profiles. The controller 130 can control at least one of a stopand continuity of supplying the power based on at least one of the firstprofile and the second profile.

7-2-3 Example of Power Supply Control from First Viewpoint

The controller 130 can determine the first required time required fromthe start to the end of changes in the measured values representing thefirst physical quantities for controlling the power supplied, based onat least one of the first profile and the second profile. The changes inthe measured values representing the first physical quantities may bestarted when the measured value representing the first physical quantityexceeds zero or the predetermined minute value. The changes in themeasured values representing the first physical quantities may be endedwhen the measured value representing the first physical quantity fallsto zero or below the predetermined minute value after the changes in themeasured values representing the first physical quantities are started.The controller 130 can control the power supplied so that supplying thepower is stopped at a timing earlier than elapse of the first requiredtime. In other words, the controller 130 can control the power suppliedso that the power continues to be supplied for a shorter time than thefirst required time.

Alternatively, the controller 130 can determine the second required timerequired from the start of changes in the measured values representingthe first physical quantities until the measured value reaches themaximum value, based on at least one of the first profile and the secondprofile. The controller 130 can control the power supplied so thatsupplying the power is stopped at a timing later than elapse of thesecond required time. In other words, the controller 130 can control thepower supplied so that the power continues to be supplied for a longertime than the second required time.

Note that the controller may determine both of the first required timeand the second required time. In this case, the controller 130 cancontrol the power supplied so that the supplying power is stopped at atiming earlier than elapse of the first required time and a timing laterthan elapse of the second required time. In other words, the controller130 can control the power supplied so that the power continues to besupplied for a shorter time than the first required time and for alonger time than the second required time.

7-2-4 Example of Power Supply Control from Second Viewpoint

The controller 130 may be configured to be capable of executing aplurality of algorithms for setting the timing when supplying the poweris stopped or a period of time in which the power continues to besupplied based on a plurality of kinds of feature points in the firstprofile or the second profile. Regarding a first feature point which isone kind of the plurality of kinds of feature points, a plurality offirst feature points can be derived from a plurality of first profilesor a plurality of second profiles, whereby the controller 130 canexecute one of a first algorithm based on the first feature points basedon deviations among the plurality of feature points and a secondalgorithm based on a second feature point which is the other kind of theplurality of kinds of feature points. The deviations among the featurepoints may be deviations among the measured values representing thefirst physical quantities at the feature points, or deviations among thetimes of the feature points, i.e., measurement times of the measuredvalues at the feature points with reference to any time, e.g., the timewhen the changes in the measured values representing the first physicalquantities are started.

More specifically, the controller 130 can execute the first algorithmwhen values based on the deviations among the plurality of first featurepoints are smaller than or equal to a threshold. The values based on aplurality of deviations include an average value (mean deviation) ofabsolute values of the plurality of deviations, an average value of thesquare of the plurality of deviations (variance), and a square root(standard deviation) of the average value of the square of the pluralityof deviations.

An example of one kind of feature point of a plurality of kinds offeature points is a point at which the first profile or the secondprofile is ended, that is, an end point. Another example of one kind offeature point of the plurality of kinds of feature points is a point atwhich the measured value representing the first physical quantity in thefirst profile or the second profile becomes maximum. The number ofpossible values of the measurement time of the measured value (maximumvalue) representing the first physical quantity at the latter kind offeature point would be larger than that of possible values of themeasurement time of the measured value (zero or minute value)representing the first physical quantity at the former kind of featurepoint. The measurement time of the measured value representing thephysical quantity at the latter kind of feature point is later than themeasurement time of the measured value representing the first physicalquantity at the former kind of feature point. Furthermore, the formerkind of feature point would be after the latter kind of feature point inthe time series.

Note that when an end point of the first profile or the second profileis used for the first feature point, and a point at which the measuredvalue representing the first physical quantity in the first profile orthe second profile becomes maximum is used for the second feature point,the measured value of the first feature point becomes smaller than themeasured value of the second feature point. In terms of the propertiesof each of the first and second feature points, in the first profile andthe second profile, the number of points which may correspond to thefirst feature point (points at which the measured value is smaller thanor equal to zero or the minute value in the power supply cycle. Aplurality of points are normally present.) is normally larger than thatof points which may correspond to the second feature point (points atwhich the measured value becomes maximum in the power supply cycle. Onlyone point is present in many cases, but a plurality of points arepresent if maximum measured values are successively obtained.). In otherwords, as compared with the second feature point, it can be said to bedifficult to determine the first feature point in the first profile andthe second profile.

7-2-5 Example of Power Supply Control from Third Viewpoint

The controller 130 can acquire the current timing when supplying thepower is stopped. The current timing when supplying the power is stoppedmay be the timing, which was derived from the first profile or thesecond profile or stored in the memory 140 in the past, when supplyingthe power is stopped. The controller 130 may control the supplied powerbased on the current timing when supplying the power is stopped, when adifference between the timing when supplying the power is stopped whichis derived from the first profile or the second profile and the currenttiming when supplying the power is stopped is smaller than or equal to athreshold. If the controller 130 strictly uses the timing when supplyingthe power is stopped derived from the first profile or the secondprofile even when the difference between the timing when supplying thepower is stopped derived from the first profile or the second profileand the current timing when supplying the power is stopped is minimal,the timing when supplying the power is stopped is frequently changed,which causes complicated control, and thus causes an unnatural feelingof the user.

In other words, the controller 130 can acquire a current period of timein which the power continues to be supplied. The current period of timein which the power continues to be supplied may be a period of time,which was derived from the first profile or the second profile or storedin the memory 140 in the past, in which the power continues to besupplied. The controller 130 may control the supplied power based on thecurrent period of time in which the power continues to be supplied, whena difference between the period of time, which is derived from the firstprofile or the second profile, in which the power continues to besupplied and the current period of time in which the power continues tobe supplied is smaller than or equal to a threshold. If the controller130 strictly uses the period of time, which is derived from the firstprofile or the second profile, in which the power continues to besupplied even when the difference between the period of time, which isderived from the first profile or the second profile, in which the powercontinues to be supplied and the current period of time in which thepower continues to be supplied is minimal, the period of time in whichthe power continues to be supplied is frequently changed, which causescomplicated control, and thus causes an unnatural feeling of the user.

7-2-6 Example where Timing when Supplying Power is Stopped or Period ofTime in which Power Continues to be Supplied are Set

Hereinafter, an example where the timing when supplying the power isstopped or the period of time in which the power continues to besupplied are set will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 13.In FIG. 13, reference numeral 1310 denotes a puff profile, referencenumeral 1320 denotes an end point of the changes, and reference numeral1330 denotes a maximum point of the changes. It should be noted that thepuff profile represented in FIG. 13 is intended to be based on theaverage of the measured values for controlling the power supplied whichare obtained in periods of multiple cycles, but is a simplified examplefor purposes of illustration. Hereinafter, the end point of the changesis the first feature point, and the maximum point of the changes is thesecond feature point.

The controller 130 calculates an end time tend (i) of the changes withreference to any time, e.g., a start time of the changes, every periodfrom when supplying the power is started to when supplying the power isstopped. Next, the controller 130 obtains an average value t_(end_ave)of a plurality of end times t_(end) (i) of changes, and calculatesdeviations (t_(end_ave)−t_(end) (i)) among the end times t_(end) (i) ofchanges every period. Then, the controller 130 calculates a value basedon the plurality of deviations (t_(end_ave)−t_(end) (i)), and comparesthe value with a threshold, and when the value is equal to or smallerthan the threshold, the controller 130 regards a value (measured valuefor controlling the power supplied) 1340 on the puff profile 1310 at thetime when a given value Δt6 being longer than or equal to zero issubtracted from the average value t_(end_ave) of a plurality of endtimes t_(end) (i) of changes as the above-described third thresholdThre3. On the other hand, when the value based on the plurality ofdeviations (t_(end_ave)−t_(end) (i)) is not smaller than or equal to thethreshold, the controller 130 regards a value 1360 obtained bysubtracting a given value Δv3 being equal to or larger than zero fromthe maximum value (maximum value of the measured values for controllingthe power supplied) 1350 as the above-described third threshold Thre3.By setting the third threshold Thre3 as described above, the timing whensupplying the power is stopped or the period of time in which the powercontinues to be supplied are indirectly set. Note that examples of thevalue based on the plurality of deviations (t_(end_ave)−t_(end) (i))include standard deviation and mean deviation.

Note that in the present embodiment, to set the timing when supplyingthe power is stopped or the period of time in which the power continuesto be supplied, either the end point 1320 or the maximum point 1330 ofchanges of the puff profile is used. Alternatively, the timing whensupplying the power is stopped or the period of time in which the powercontinues to be supplied may be set using both of the end point 1320 andthe maximum point 1330 of changes of the puff profile. By way ofexample, the timing when supplying the power is stopped may be providedbetween the end point 1320 and the maximum point 1330 of changes of thepuff profile. In other words, the power may continue to be supplieduntil any time between the end point 1320 and the maximum point 1330 ofchanges of the puff profile.

8 Seventh Exemplary Operations of Controller 130

The seventh exemplary operations are premised on the controller 130which performs the operations similar to the fifth exemplary operations.However, in the seventh exemplary operations, the seventh condition is acondition that the measured value from the inhalation sensor 106 forcontrolling the power supplied is equal to or larger than the sixththreshold Thre6. In the seventh exemplary operations, it is notessential that the eighth condition is severer than the seventhcondition, but the eighth condition comprises a plurality of conditionsincluding a condition that the measured value for controlling the powersupplied is less than the seventh threshold Thre7 which is larger thanthe sixth threshold Thre6. When all of the plurality of conditions aresatisfied, the process proceeds to step S1108.

In the seventh exemplary operations, the controller 130 stores theprofile of the measured values for controlling the power supplied, andupdates one of the sixth threshold Thre6 and the seventh threshold Thre7based on the stored profile of the measured values for controlling thepower supplied. In other words, in the seventh exemplary operations, oneof the sixth threshold Thre6 and the seventh threshold Thre7 is aconstant value, and the other is an updatable value.

Note that the sixth threshold Thre6 may correspond to theabove-described first threshold Thre1 or the second threshold Thre2 as aconstant value, and the seventh threshold Thre7 may correspond to theabove-described third threshold Thre3 which is updatable based on thestored profile of the measured values for controlling the powersupplied.

9 Eighth Exemplary Operations of Controller 130

The eighth exemplary operations are premised on the controller 130 whichperforms the operations similar to the seventh exemplary operations.However, in the seventh exemplary operations, it is not essential tostore the profile of the measured values for controlling the powersupplied, and it is not essential that one of the sixth threshold Thre6and the seventh threshold Thre7 is a constant value.

In the eighth exemplary operations, the controller 130 updates one ofthe sixth threshold Thre6 and the seventh threshold Thre7 at differentfrequencies than the other. In other words, in the eighth exemplaryoperations, an update frequency of the sixth threshold Thre6 isdifferent from that of the seventh threshold Thre7.

Note that the update frequency of the sixth threshold Thre6 may be lowerthan that of the seventh threshold Thre7. The update frequency of thesixth threshold Thre6 being lower than that of the seventh thresholdThre7 includes the situation in which while the sixth threshold Thre6 isconstant without being updated, the seventh threshold Thre7 is updated.

10 Ninth Exemplary Operations of Controller 130

The ninth exemplary operations are premised on the controller 130 whichperforms the operations similar to the sixth exemplary operations.

In the ninth exemplary operation, the controller 130 stores a profile ofthe measured values representing the first physical quantities forcontrolling the power supplied, the profile corresponding to the powersupply cycle including a period from when the power source startssupplying the power to when supplying the power is stopped, and controlsthe power supplied in the N-th power supply cycle based on a profile ofthe measurement values, the profile corresponding to one or more powersupply cycles of an the N-1st power supply cycle and power supply cyclesbefore the N-1st power supply cycle. Note that N is a natural number of2 or more.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

100 . . . Aerosol generating device, 102 . . . Reservoir, 104 . . .Atomizer, 106 . . . Inhalation sensor, 108 . . . Air intake flow path,110 . . . Aerosol flow path, 112 . . . Wick, 114 . . . Battery, 116 . .. Mouthpiece member, 130 . . . Controller, 135 . . . Power controller,140 . . . Memory

1. An aerosol generating device, comprising: a battery; a containerconfigured to retain liquid; an atomizer including a porous ceramicstructure that holds the liquid at a position so that the liquid isheated when power is supplied to the atomizer; a pressure sensorconfigured to detect pressure in an air intake path of the aerosolgenerating device; and circuitry configured to perform control toincrease an amount of power supplied from the battery to the atomizer toa first power for a first period of time based on a signal output by thepressure sensor indicating that the criteria for triggering generationof the aerosol by the atomizer has been satisfied; perform control toincrease an amount of power supplied from the battery to the atomizer toa second power, which is greater than the first power, for a secondperiod of time following the first period of time, in a case that asignal output by the pressure sensor continuously indicates that thecriteria for triggering generation of the aerosol by the atomizer hasbeen satisfied; and perform control to stop power from being suppliedfrom the battery to the atomizer in a case that a signal output by thepressure sensor indicates that the criteria for triggering generation ofthe aerosol by the atomizer is no longer been satisfied and after a timecondition that is triggered by an output of the pressure sensor issatisfied.
 2. The aerosol generating device of claim 1, wherein thefirst period of time is less than 100 ms.
 3. The aerosol generatingdevice of claim 1, wherein the first amount of power supplied to theatomizer is insufficient to for the atomizer to atomize the liquid. 4.The aerosol generating device of claim 1, wherein the time condition isa time period elapsed since the signal output by the pressure sensorindicates that the criteria for generation of the aerosol by theatomizer has no longer been satisfied.
 5. The aerosol generating deviceof claim 1, wherein the time condition is a time elapsed from when thepressure sensor detects at least one of a user's puff start or user'spuff end.
 6. The aerosol generating device of claim 1, wherein the timeelapsed is variable based on an operational characteristic of theatomizer.
 7. The aerosol generating device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a housing that includes the battery and the pressure sensor.8. The aerosol generating device of claim 7, wherein the containerincludes the atomizer.
 9. The aerosol generating device of claim 8,wherein the container is configured to be removably attached to thehousing.
 10. The aerosol generating device of claim 9, wherein thecontainer includes an electrical connection configured to beelectrically connected to the battery in a case that the container isattached to the housing.
 11. The aerosol generating device of claim 1,wherein the porous ceramic structure includes pores configured totransfer the liquid by capillary action to the position so that theliquid is heated when power is supplied to the atomizer.
 12. The aerosolgenerating device of claim 1, wherein the criteria for triggeringgeneration of the aerosol by the atomizer corresponds to a detection ofa change in pressure in the air intake path detected by the pressuresensor.
 13. The aerosol generating device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a memory configured to store computer-executableinstructions, wherein the circuitry is microprocessor of microcomputerconfigured to perform control by executing the computer-executableinstructions stored in the memory.
 14. The aerosol generating device ofclaim 1, wherein the first period of time is shorter than the secondperiod of time.
 15. The aerosol generating device of claim 1, whereinthe first period of time is a predetermined period of time.
 16. Theaerosol generating device of claim 1, wherein the second period of timeis variable based on an operational characteristic of the atomizer. 17.The aerosol generating device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry isconfigured to perform control to stop power from being supplied from thebattery to the atomizer at the second power in a case that a signaloutput by the pressure sensor continuously indicates that the criteriafor triggering generation of the aerosol by the atomizer has beensatisfied and that power has been supplied to the atomizer for more thana predetermined period of time.
 18. The aerosol generating device ofclaim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to perform control to stoppower from being supplied from the battery to the atomizer at the secondpower in a case that a signal output by the pressure sensor continuouslyindicates that the criteria for triggering generation of the aerosol bythe atomizer has been satisfied for more than a predetermined period oftime.
 19. A method performed by an aerosol generating device comprisinga battery, a container configured to retain liquid, an atomizerincluding a porous ceramic structure that holds the liquid at a positionso that the liquid is heated when power is supplied to the atomizer anda pressure sensor configured to detect pressure in an air intake path ofthe aerosol generating device, the method comprising: performing controlto increase an amount of power supplied from the battery to the atomizerto a first power for a first period of time based on a signal output bythe pressure sensor indicating that the criteria for triggeringgeneration of the aerosol by the atomizer has been satisfied; performingcontrol to increase an amount of power supplied from the battery to theatomizer to a second power, which is greater than the first power, for asecond period of time following the first period of time, in a case thata signal output by the pressure sensor continuously indicates that thecriteria for triggering generation of the aerosol by the atomizer hasbeen satisfied; and performing control to stop power from being suppliedfrom the battery to the atomizer in a case that a signal output by thepressure sensor indicates that the criteria for triggering generation ofthe aerosol by the atomizer is no longer been satisfied and after a timecondition that is triggered by an output of the pressure sensor issatisfied.
 20. An aerosol generating device, comprising: a battery; acontainer configured to retain liquid; an atomizer including a porousceramic structure that holds the liquid at a position so that the liquidis heated when power is supplied to the atomizer; means for detectingpressure in an air intake path of the aerosol generating device; meansfor increasing an amount of power supplied from the battery to theatomizer to a first power for a first period of time based on a signaloutput by the means for detecting indicating that the criteria fortriggering generation of the aerosol by the atomizer has been satisfied;means for increasing an amount of power supplied from the battery to theatomizer to a second power, which is greater than the first power, for asecond period of time following the first period of time, in a case thata signal output by the means for detecting continuously indicates thatthe criteria for triggering generation of the aerosol by the atomizerhas been satisfied; and means for stopping power from being suppliedfrom the battery to the atomizer in a case that a signal output by themeans for detecting indicates that the criteria for triggeringgeneration of the aerosol by the atomizer is no longer been satisfiedand after a time condition that is triggered by an output of thepressure sensor is satisfied.